New Friendship

Tabish's POV,

"Let's eat something. I'm starving. Please!!" I said trying to convince my stubborn friend.

"Didn't you have breakfast?? We'd spend half an hour or more if we decided to eat now. And then we'll have lunch as well. There would also be a loss of about one hour for the buffet system. I don't want to waste more time. It's 11.30 now. We have to cover all the rides. Please wait till lunch. We will have a delicious lunch. There you can eat as much as you want." He said like a child who won't want to leave an amusement park until he rides every ride there. And here he is no different. Rayan loves amusement parks way too much. It doesn't matter how many times he has been there.

"Fine!! You should enjoy the rides. I'm off to eat. I would faint if I didn't eat something now." I said and started walking away from him. He stamped his leg in frustration and came behind me.

"Did I tell you that I hate you!!" He said while walking a few steps ahead.

"Nope!! You didn't. Instead, you said you love me." I replied to him with a big smile.

******************At the cafe*******************

He was looking in the other direction with one leg on the other and his hands folded. "What do you want to order?" I asked him.

"Idiot!! Look there. You have to take the coupon first and then get in line to get it." He replied back pointing at the counter where everyone was taking coupons I guess."

"Ohh!! So, let's go there." I said and we both headed there. I was first to join the line and he was behind me. He had his hands in his jeans pockets. We both looked back when we heard some girls talking.

"And what do you want??" the one whose back was facing us asked the others.

"I'll have one cheese sandwich." "And one grilled cheese. No, no, one toast. Urgh!!! Whichever one will be cheap?? OK!!" The other two girls said to her. We again looked in front not wanting to get caught eavesdropping on them.

"I am so sorry. My shoelace got open." The girl apologized for pushing Rayan.

We turned back to look at her. Our eyes grew wide in shock. She was none other than Kashish. She didn't see us as she bent down to tie her laces. Rayan and I were looking at each other in disbelief or you could say shock. Before we could do anything, she stood up and fixed her hair. And the moment her eyes fell on us, she was also shocked. She got froze in her place. She came back to earth when the people behind her told her to move forward. That's when we also turned in front. Rayan got blank. He didn't know what to do or how to react?? I turned to face him and asked, 'What are you planning to do now??' He shrugged his shoulders and responded, 'I don't know.' Suddenly, he changed from being a confident boy to a scaredy-cat just by seeing a girl. I self palmed my face thinking why can't he just speak his heart out to her?? We both turned back to her when she poked her first finger at Rayan's back to get his attention. We both looked at her.

"Can we talk after we place our orders??" She asked him with pleading eyes. I sharply poked my finger at his waist and told him to answer her. He held his waist in pain and nodded at her. We all took our coupons. She called her friend and told her to get their food. I thought to give them space to talk and turned to leave.

"Heyy, I want to talk to both of you." She said stopping me from going away. I looked at her with confused eyes. But, decided to stay anyways. I can't trust Rayan here. If I walked away he wouldn't be able to tell her what he wanted to say because of his nervousness.

"So, I want to apologize to you both. I am really very sorry. I shouldn't have behaved that way. I was just really worried about aapi. She is very important to me. I got very scared when you told me about her. Because the last time she had an allergic reaction she was way too serious. That's why. I am not justifying my behavior. I know it was wrong to say all those things when you only helped her. I am really very sorry. Please forgive me." She said when she saw both of you waiting for her to speak.

My respect for her was greatly increased by her apology. Rayan, as a boy, couldn't apologize to her for the way he behaved. It was she who apologized first. Then again, maybe that's because she didn't think of him like that. Perhaps, that's why. It worried me that Rayan, as a perfectionist, would try to make everything perfect for her.

"It's ok. We can understand. People usually lash out when their loved ones are in danger. No need to apologize for it. It's fine." I said and that's when Rayan also gathered his courage and said,

"Even I am sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you like that. But I was also worried about him. In fact, he is very scared of the hospital and what you told us. I couldn't hold myself back. And that's why I shouted at you. I am so sorry. I should have understood your situation." She looked at me and I gave her a weak smile saying what he said was true. She smiled back at me and replied,

"It's fine. Don't worry. I didn't mind it." She said while increasing the smile on her face.

"So... friends." She asked us and extended a hand to shake. Rayan was looking at her face and her hand again and again. I gently pushed him to take the handshake. That's when he held her hand and smiled at her. She looked at him with doe-like eyes.

"Heyy, you don't want to eat?? Your food will get cold." Her friend came and asked her. She looked at their hands and then at Kashish raising her eyebrows at her. That's when she realized she was still holding his hand and let go of it with a jerk.

"Ohh!! Sorry." She said while tucking her hair behind her ear and looking down in embarrassment. Rayan also apologized while rubbing his neck back

."So... wanna join us??" Kashish asked both of us. Rayan's eyes widened once more at her question. Before he could lose this opportunity because of his nerves, I responded first.

"Yeah, sure. Why not!!"

"Cool! Let's go," she said and headed towards their table. They showed their table and we headed back to take our food. Standing in line I looked at him. As if he is processing all the things that happened a while back. I patted him on his shoulder to halt his endless thoughts. I looked at him and raised my eyebrows at him.

"Please don't lose this chance because of your perfectionist behavior. Just be yourself. OKK!! She on her own initiated this friendship. Make the most of it." I told him, trying to persuade him not to ruin anything now. He just nodded at me trying to think of something.

We took our food and walked over to their table. All the three girls sat in one row and we were both in front of them.

"So, Kashish, would you mind introducing them??" The girl in the middle said.

"I am Tabish and he is Rayan." I introduced ourselves to them.

"How do you guys know each other??" the other asked.

"So, the thing is I told you about the Aapi getting hospitalized a week ago. They helped her that day. And I misunderstood them and lashed out at them. But then I learned that they were the ones who helped her. I apologized to them. And we are friends now." Kashish told her friends.

"Wow!! So you took a golden ticket to be friends with her." The middle one said. We both looked at each other in confusion. Seeing our confusion, the other said,

"Her aapi holds great importance in her life. She loves her the most. And since you helped her you got a golden opportunity to be friends with her. Making friends is as difficult as a rock for her."

"Yep!! I think it's their family disease. All three siblings can't make new friends." The first one said,

"But it's an honor that you have been given such an opportunity." She joined her hands and bowed in front of her. Kashish hit her on the shoulder when she was teasing her.

"Shut up!!" Kashish said.

"I don't want the whole world to be my friends if they just want to take advantage of me." she continued.

"I am Seher." The middle one introduces herself and extends a handshake. We both shook hands with her.

"And I am Parvatii." The other replied. We all talked about many things while eating our food. Thank god Rayan forgot about his perfect concept and was enjoying the moment. I didn't think his day would be this enjoyable. Just yesterday he was crying that he had ruined his chance with her. And today he is enjoying his time with her. The boy really has power in his prayers.

"Let's go. We can't just sit here and talk all day. We still have to cover many rides. Come on!!" Kashish said and stood up from her seat.

"You boys wait here. We girls just come back from the washroom. OK!!" Seher said and they headed towards the washroom.

We lost sight of them as soon as they disappeared. Rayan turned back and gave me a bone-breaking hug. I couldn't breathe because of his grip.

"YES!!! YES!! It finally happened. I really talked with her. We are friends now. OH MY GOD!! I can't believe it. I am so happy, Tabish." he shouted in my ear. I pushed him away from me and took a deep breath.

"Are you mad?? You want to kill me. I couldn't breathe, idiot." I scolded him.

"Nope!! I am just too happy." He said with a huge grin on his face.

Seeing the girls returning, I stopped in between. In order for him to regain control of his emotions, I told him they were back. He regained his composure and turned around.

"So, let's go. Shall we??" Kashish asked.

"Yup!!" We both said in unison.

She was giggling and laughing like a kid. Looking at her, I felt she was the complete opposite of Rayan. And everything he needs in his life. He's not someone who lets anyone into his life easily. After his father's death, he creates a boundary around himself that very few people can cross. And now seeing him laughing and enjoying himself with someone other than me. I was really happy for him. Parvatii didn't take to any major rides as she was afraid of heights. And Seher was also avoiding most of the rides. Basically, Rayan and Kashish only went to each and every ride. I tried to let them together as much as possible. We all enjoyed the rest of the day together.